Abandoning Wife and Selling Daughter? Turning Around to Marry a Powerful Minister and Wiping Out Your Entire Clan! - Chapter 38

Zhang Xiaolan had been busy the previous day. She slept deeply at night and woke up a little late in the morning.

As she hurried to leave, she noticed a woman sitting at her doorstep.

At a glance, she recognized the woman—it was Zhou Quan’s mistress.

Zhang Xiaolan wanted nothing to do with Zhou Quan. That day, she had only helped out of kindness, hoping that Buddha would bless Xiang Ning with less suffering.

But why had this woman come here today?

Stepping past Zhou Quan’s mistress, Zhang Xiaolan hurried towards Fenghua Tower.

To her surprise, the woman followed silently behind. If Zhang Xiaolan hadn’t turned back a few times, she wouldn’t have even noticed her presence.

As she neared the back entrance of Fenghua Tower, Zhang Xiaolan decided to avoid trouble and quickly slipped into a nearby alley.

Sure enough, the mistress followed.

“What do you want?” Zhang Xiaolan got straight to the point. “That day, Boguang already returned your indenture contract. Why are you waiting at my doorstep?”

She was in a hurry and had no time to waste on unrelated people.

“Although I am now free, my revenge remains unfulfilled. My parents died tragically. How can I flee my homeland and live in peace alone?”

Tears welled up in the mistress’s eyes, filled with deep hatred. “I became a mistress by mutual consent. But just because someone holds power, they think they can kill my parents and take my home?”

Was this Shen Ting’s doing?

Or was it Zhou Quan?

Zhang Xiaolan suspected it was Shen Ting.

Lately, tensions had risen in the Zhou household. Shen Ting was the type who, if she was unhappy, would make sure everyone else suffered too.

But to kill and seize property—that was crossing the line.

“Go buy yourself some food. I’ll be back in the evening.”

She was in a rush. Tossing a few copper coins to the mistress, she hurried off.

———

The morning passed quickly.

Since she couldn’t leave, Zhang Xiaolan sent a young kitchen boy to deliver a message to Han Boguang, asking him to meet her at noon.

When her break arrived, she opened the door and saw Han Boguang already there.

Closing the door behind her, she handed him a food box, and they walked into a nearby alley.

“Tell me everything about how you redeemed Zhou Quan’s mistress that day.”

Han Boguang was surprised. After all, the woman had simply taken her contract and left.

Thinking for a moment, he recounted the events clearly.

“You said she went straight home?” Zhang Xiaolan frowned.

“Yes. I bought her freedom from the brothel madam, returned her contract, and she left on her own after hearing the lady’s instructions.” Han Boguang was puzzled.

Why would Zhang Xiaolan suddenly bring her up?

“She came looking for me this morning, asking me to take her in,” Zhang Xiaolan nodded. “She also said her parents were killed. Do you know where her family lived?”

Han Boguang thought for a moment. “I only saw the general direction, not the exact location. But if her parents were murdered, the city patrol and the county office must have records. I’ll ask around.”

“Good. Be discreet. If this is true, then Shen Ting is far more ruthless than I thought. You still have a family—don’t let a hungry wolf follow you home and bring harm to them.”

Zhang Xiaolan’s expression grew serious.

Han Boguang nodded, took the food box, and left.

As Zhang Xiaolan turned back towards the kitchen, she noticed a young waiter peeking curiously from the side.

Having lived in an inner courtyard, she had seen many schemes—managers’ tricks, women’s power struggles.

She had even seen people lose their lives over such things. But someone as cruel as Shen Ting was rare.

Quickly stepping inside, Zhang Xiaolan maintained her composure, collected her meal, and sat down to eat quietly.

Nearby, Lin Shi whispered to another woman, “Do you think Madam Zhang and that man in the wheelchair broke up?”

“You think she’s quiet because of that? Do you really believe a woman should lose her appetite over a man?”

The other woman admired Zhang Xiaolan’s skills and respected her independence after leaving her husband’s household.

———

Meanwhile, in the palace, a discussion was taking place.

“You’re truly interested in that woman?”

The emperor had little concern for his ministers’ marriages, but Tang Lifeng was different. They had known each other since childhood, studying in the same academy.

“Yes.”

Tang Lifeng followed a step behind the emperor as they strolled through the palace corridors.

Soon, they arrived at a pavilion.

On the second floor, a servant presented tea. Its fragrance mingled with the scent of osmanthus flowers wafting in from outside.

“Yunchuan, tell me honestly—what do you see in Madam Zhang?”

It had been a long time since the emperor used his courtesy name. Tang Lifeng hesitated for a moment, his mind racing.

“Perhaps it’s the sense of security she brings.”

A reassuring presence? The emperor hadn’t expected that answer.

He had assumed it was due to her beauty or her outstanding craftsmanship.

The emperor gestured to a servant, who presented a tray to Tang Lifeng.

“What is this?” Tang Lifeng was puzzled.

“Open it and see.” The emperor seemed more focused on his tea.

Tang Lifeng, still confused, lifted the yellow silk covering. Inside was an embroidered scripture.

He looked up at the servant, who nodded with a smile. Carefully, Tang Lifeng flipped through the book.

“This was embroidered by Madam Zhang,” the emperor said casually. “Hao Yun commissioned it from her. It’s quite good.”

“Hao Yun has a keen eye. She has a clean background, decent character, and her embroidery is top-tier. I hear she now makes pastries at Fenghua Tower. What do you think?”

The emperor, confined to the palace, was quite curious about Zhang Xiaolan.

“If Your Majesty wants to know more, why not ask Prince Qin? They say if you wait at Fenghua Tower long enough, you’re bound to meet him.”

Tang Lifeng knew the emperor admired Zhang Xiaolan, so he joked along.

The emperor’s eyes narrowed slightly before he chuckled. “I was planning to make you Vice Minister of the Censorate. After you prove yourself, I’d promote you to Minister. But since you fancy Madam Zhang, and her ex-husband was a Censorate official, would you like the Minister’s position directly?”

His tone was teasing. Tang Lifeng had always been upright, and the emperor was curious if he would bend the rules for Zhang Xiaolan.

Tang Lifeng closed the scripture and stepped forward.

Bowing, he said, “Your Majesty can appoint me as Minister, but I have neither achievements nor the people’s trust. I do not deserve it. Please follow the usual process.”

“How dull.” The emperor waved him away. “Go on, you old man in a young body.”

After bowing, Tang Lifeng left with the servant.

“Zhou Lin, how old is Yunchuan this year? I feel like his face hasn’t changed since I met him.”

The emperor’s chief eunuch hurried forward. “Your Majesty jests—Lord Tang is only twenty-five.”

“With that attitude, I thought he was thirty!”

Zhou Lin simply smiled.

———

Bang!

Shen Ting threw a teacup at the wall, but it wasn’t enough to vent her anger.

She wanted to throw more, but Cui Liu rushed over to stop her.

Giving a look to the maids, they quickly cleaned up the broken pieces and served fresh tea.

“What’s wrong, madam?”

Cui Liu helped Shen Ting onto a couch, trying to soothe her.

“It’s only been a few months since our wedding, and my husband already avoids my room. Today, I went to see him in the front hall, and he refused to meet me! How can I not be angry?” Shen Ting’s eyes were red with frustration.

Cui Liu comforted her. “Perhaps it’s because you embarrassed him in public last time. Men care about face. If you soften your approach and visit more often, he’ll reconcile with you.”

“But I can’t swallow this anger.”

“Then find another way to release it while winning back your husband’s heart. You have everything you need.”

“Tell the waiter at Fenghua Tower that if he does as I say, he’ll be handsomely rewarded at the end of the month.”